Easel



May 22,1945. A. M. ROSSMAN 2,376,452

EASEL Filed Aug. 6, 1943 Patented May 22, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EASEL` AllenM. Rossman, Wilmette, Ill. Application August 6, 1943, Serial No. 497,699

Z Claims.

This invention relates toY easels, more particularly easels for supporting `an article in an inclined position, such as for holding `iloral displays and the like.v

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an easel which is simple of 4construe-- tion, sturdy, and which may be collapsed into `compact form for` shipment or storage and yet may be quickly and readily reassembled for use. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an easel of the above mentioned character which requires a minimum amount of metal or metal parts h It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an easel of the above mentioned character which includes a front frame and a pivoted supporting leg so arranged that the leg may be set at any desired angle, within limits, to.

the supporting frame thereby to position the supporting frame at various desired angles to the` horizontal.

The attainment of the above and further ob- '.iects of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a partthereof,

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front view of the easel of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view thereof;

Figure 3 is an'enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the top portion of the easel; and

Figure 4 is a View of the easel collapsed for shipment or storage.

Reference may now be had more particularly to the drawing, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout.

The easel, indicated in general by the reference numeral l, is made of Wood and includes a front supporting frame 2 of a generally A-shape and a rear pivoted supporting leg 3. The A-frame includes two legs 4 and 5 joined by a wood cross rod 6 that is nailed to the legs 4 and 5 by nails 'I and 8. Each of th'e nails extends throughdrilled holes in the cross rod 6 and the legs 4 and 5. Each nail is clinched over at the bottom, as indicated at 9. The legs 3, 4 and 5 are of the same lengths and are rectangular in cross section.

The top of each leg 4 and 5 is chamfered oil', as indicated at Ill- I I, to form flat surfaces which are parallel to one another and extend in vertical planes when the frame is in the position illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, that is, when both legs of the frame 2 rest upon the horizontal surface.

The legs 4 and 5 are of identical construction and each leg has a hole I2 formed therein for receiving a pivot bolt i3. The bolt extends 'through the legs`4 and 5 and through a hole I5 in the supporting leg 3.Y One end of the bolt I3 hasa head thereon that bears upon the outside of the leg` 4. A wing nut I8 threads on the opposite endof the bolt and bears against the leg 5. Metal washers may, optionally, be interposed between the bolt head and the leg 4 and'between the wing nut I8 and the leg 5. When the wing nut l 8 is loosened on the shank of the bolt `I3 the pivot leg 3 may be freely swung between the `legs 4-5 of the A- frame 2. When the wing nut is tightened it clamps the bearing surfaces Ill--Il of `the legs to lie in the same plane as the A-frame 2 lies, the

leg 3 then lying against the back of the cross bar 6. In that position the bottom of the: leg 3 is above a line joining the bottoms of the legs 4 5.

YIf the easel is then leaned against a wall it will be supported at its bottom only by the legs 4-5. The easel is then in condition for ready use. The

leg 3 may be quickly swung to the position illustrated in Figure 2, and-then by tightening the wing nut lthe upper ends of the legs.` 4-5, at the apex of the A-frame, are clamped against the opposite surfaces of the pivoted supporting leg 3 and thus hold the supporting leg in position. The chamfered surfaces lll-Il of the frame members 4-5 provide two parallel, plane, continuous bearing surfaces for the opposite plane surfaces of the upper end of the leg member 3. The tightened clamping bolt inhibits any tendency for the leg 3 to 'be moved in or out from its adjusted position, such as might result from an accidental push or kick against the easel tending to slide it along the floor. The A-frame 2 is sturdy of construction, since thetriangle formed by the legs 4--5 and the cross member 6 provides a rigid structure. i

The easel may be readily collapsed for shipment. This is done by merely loosening and removing the wing nut I8, thenI slippingv the leg 5 oi of the bolt I3, then replacing the wing nut. The three legs 3, 4 and 5 may then be collapsed to the position illustrated in Figure 4 by pivoting the legs 4 and 5 about the nails 'I--B on the cross member 6. 'The collapsed structure is compact for shipment or storage, and may be very quickly the nails 'l--B between the cross bar 6 and the;

bars or legs 4 5 may be omitted. When the easel is made of hard wood the nail holes and bolt the rods and are at right angles to the rods and at right angles to the bar so that upon separating the rods at the bolt the frame may be collapsed by swinging the rods and the cross bar about their connecting pins to bring the rods together, and a supporting rod pivoted to the apex of the frame by said bolt.

2. An easel for supporting an article in an inclined position, said easel including an A-shaped front framecomprisingtwo rods joined together at the apex of the frameby a bolt and joined intermediate their ends by a cross bar that is pivotally connected to both rods by pins atr right holes are drilled through the wood beforethe easel is assembled.

kIn compliance with the requirements4 of' the patent statutes I have here shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention. It is, however, torba-understood ',thatA the `invention is notf-.ilimitedz to the 'precise construction here shown', the same being .merely illustrative of the principlesfof the invention.' What I consider new andadesireto secure vby Letters Patent is:

-`Air'easel for ysupporting an article in an inclined position, said easel including an A-shaped front frame comprising .two rods joined together at the apex of the frame by a, bolt and joined intermediate their .endsfby'a cross bar that pivotally connectedto both rrods by pins vthe longitudinalaa-x'es of whichare xed with-respect to angles to the rods and at right angles to the bar so that upon separating the rods at the bolt the frame vmay be collapsed by swinging the rods and the cross bar about their connecting pins to bring the rods together, a supporting rod pivoted to the apex ofthe frame by said bolt, said supporting rod extending between the rods of the frame at the; apex, the ends of-therods ofthe Afframe being chamfered at theapex of the frame to form parallel bearing surfaces atright angles to the axis of the bolt, and means including said bolt forclamping the rods of the frame toward the pivoted-supportingrod to hold the pivoted supporting rod in adjusted position, said rod extending above the frame and-having means at its, ex-

tended `part for facilitating securingof an article.

upon the easel. l

- -ALLEN M. ROSSMAN. 

